Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Super Eagles Legend Jay-Jay Okocha Arrives in Abidjan for African Coaches Symposium. Nigeria’s football icon, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, has arrived in Abidjan ahead of the highly anticipated African Coaches Symposium. The former Super Eagles star was invited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a special guest for the event. The symposium, organised by CAF, aims to analyse and assess the performance of teams that participated in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in Ivory Coast. Okocha, who enjoyed a glittering career with the Nigerian national team and several European clubs, is one of many…

Manchester United Reports £113.2m Net Loss, Totaling Over £370m In Five Years. Manchester United have reported a net loss of £113.2m for the financial year ending 30th June, according to the club’s latest accounts. This follows losses of £28.7m in 2022-23 and £115.5m in 2021-22, bringing total losses over the past five years to more than £370m. Despite these financial results, the club is not expected to breach the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. These rules permit certain allowances, known as ‘add backs’, which exclude some expenditures from the overall calculations. Under Premier League regulations, clubs are restricted…

Gareth Southgate Reflects On England Tenure And Future Opportunities. Former England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed that he is in no rush to make a decision on his next career move following his departure from the national team in July. After an impressive eight-year spell with the Three Lions, Southgate stepped down after England’s second consecutive European Championship final defeat, and while he remains open to new opportunities, he plans to take time before making any decisions. At 54, Southgate has been linked with several high-profile roles, including a potential move to Manchester United as a successor to under-pressure…

Cristiano Ronaldo Criticises Erik ten Hag, Calls For Manchester United Rebuild. Cristiano Ronaldo has openly criticised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, stating that the club must “rebuild everything” in order to compete for football’s top honours once again. The Dutch manager is facing mounting pressure following Manchester United’s disappointing eighth-place finish last season, marking their lowest position in Premier League history. The pressure has intensified after the Red Devils suffered two defeats in their opening three games of the current campaign. Ronaldo, who enjoyed two successful spells at Old Trafford before departing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr,…

Michelle Alozie Signs New Two-Year Contract With Houston Dash. Super Falcons defender, Michelle Alozie, has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with NWSL side Houston Dash, extending her stay at the club. The fresh contract, which is set to commence on 1st January 2025, reflects the club’s confidence in Alozie’s abilities and her continued value to the squad. Notably, the agreement also includes a mutual option for the 2027 NWSL regular season, providing both the player and the club with flexibility for future seasons. Alozie, a key figure in Nigeria’s national team, has been instrumental…

Super Eagles Held To Goalless Draw By Rwanda In Kigali. The Super Eagles were held to a goalless draw by hosts Rwanda in a hard-fought encounter this afternoon in Kigali. Nigeria came close to breaking the deadlock when Ademola Lookman’s header found the back of the net, only for the referee to controversially disallow the goal for unclear reasons. Earlier in the game, Rwanda’s goalkeeper had denied Lookman with a fine save, keeping the visitors at bay. Victor Osimhen, who came on as a second-half substitute, posed a constant threat to Rwanda’s defence, creating several dangerous opportunities. However,…

KMI Panel Unanimously Supports Declan Rice’s Red Card Decision In Arsenal-Brighton Draw. The Premier League’s independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has unanimously backed referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to send off Declan Rice during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton last month. According to findings obtained by ESPN, the panel stated that Rice’s actions were deliberate, with the report noting: “Rice knows what he’s doing, it’s a gentle touch but once the referee sees it, he has no choice.” The five-member panel was in unanimous agreement that Rice’s behaviour was “clear, deliberate and impactful.” The decision generated significant debate…

Nigeria’s U-18 Basketball Teams Advance To Quarter-Finals At FIBA Africa Qualifiers Nigeria’s U-18 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have both secured spots in the quarter-finals of the FIBA Africa U-18 World Cup qualifiers, currently underway in South Africa. The Nigerian girls’ team earned their place as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage. They will face Egypt in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, in Pretoria. The boys’ team also progressed to the quarter-finals, continuing their strong performance in the tournament. With only two teams set to represent Africa in the FIBA U-18 World Cup in Switzerland,…

Victor Moses Joins Luton Town On Free Transfer. Former Nigeria international winger, Victor Moses, has signed for English Championship side Luton Town on a free transfer. The 33-year-old winger makes the move after leaving Russian club Spartak Moscow following the expiration of his contract. Moses, who enjoyed a successful career with clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, Fenerbahce, and Inter Milan, is now set to embark on a new challenge in English football with Luton. His wealth of experience will undoubtedly boost the team as they aim for promotion to the Premier League. Congratulations have been pouring in for…

Sports Minister Urges States To Present Young Talents At 2024 National Youth Games. The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has called on state contingents to bring forward their most promising young athletes for the National Youth Games, which are set to commence in Asaba. The Minister stressed that the future of Nigerian sports hinges on the talent pool identified and nurtured through youth championships like these. The Games Village for the Asaba 2024 National Youth Games was officially opened on Monday, 9th September, ahead of the opening ceremony, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 11th September.…

Kevin De Bruyne Urges Belgium To Improve After Defeat To France. Kevin De Bruyne has called for Belgium to “be better in every way” following their 2-0 defeat to France in the Nations League on Monday. The Manchester City midfielder, visibly frustrated by his team’s performance, admitted to a heated exchange with his team-mates at half-time. Despite a strong start to the competition with a 3-1 win over Israel, where De Bruyne scored twice, Belgium were outclassed by France. Goals from Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele sealed a comfortable victory for the French side, leaving Belgium searching for answers.…

Koeman Criticises Bergwijn’s Saudi Move, But Depay Still In National Team Plans. Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has voiced his disapproval of Steven Bergwijn’s recent move to the Saudi Pro League, stating that the winger will no longer be considered for selection in the national team. However, Koeman has taken a different stance on Memphis Depay, whose move to Brazil will not close the door on his international career. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Koeman expressed concerns over Bergwijn’s decision to join the growing number of players making the switch to Saudi Arabia. “I disapproved of Steven Bergwijn’s move…